Democrats call voters in Washington state (to get their gov votes counted)

[Tab]

SEATTLE -- Democratic Party volunteers are frantically calling voters whose provisional ballots are in dispute, urging them to make sure their vote is counted in the state's still-undecided governor's race.

The volunteers went to work Friday night, after party officials successfully sued to get access to the names of 929 voters -- all in heavily Democratic King County -- whose ballots were questionable. They planned to keep working through the weekend.

Elections officials said there was no reason to release the names, because voters who cast provisional ballots know those ballots may need to be verified, and it's up to each voter to contact the county and make sure the vote was counted. Provisional ballots are used primarily when a voter is not at his home precinct or if registration is in question.

King County Superior Court Judge Dean S. Lum said it would burden the county little to release the names, and that state law favors openness in government. "No right is more precious than the right to vote," he said.

In tears after the ruling Friday, Democratic Party chairman Paul Berendt said volunteers would work through the weekend to contact the voters.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/11/13/democrats_call_voters_in_washington_state/?rss_id=Boston.com%20/%20News

[pa28]

1. And get this.

The Rossi people are saying Gregoire needs to be like Kerry and "accept the results". This with 11,000 absentees from heavily Democratic King county still to be tabulated. (Rossi currently leads by 1,920)

[Justitia]

2. Go Gregoire - I supported her via Emily's List, great candidate

I am thrilled to see her fighting it out for WA.
And women everywhere need a progressive elected female fighting for their votes.
Never surrender to these bastards.

[TahitiNut]

3. Statewide, there are 41,623 ballots not yet counted.

11,000 in King County, 3,333 in Pierce County, 3,200 in Whatcom County, 2,500 in Snohomish County, 2,500 in Skagit County, and 2,500 in Kitsap County.

http://vote.wa.gov/general/status.aspx


On edit: Interestingly, there are 71,759 more 'ballots counted' than total votes for Governor. That's 2.54% of the ballots with no vote for Governor? Strange.